Lion maintain unbeaten run (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Lion maintain unbeaten run

8:48am Monday 26th March 2007 in Football

Chippenham Sunday League Division Two

British Lion OC extended their 100 per cent league record to 14 games with a comfortable 5-0 win over Biddestone Arms side at Green Lane and maintained a four point advantage over The Ship FC.

The Lion started the brighter and Arms' keeper Dave Chick was forced into action within the first 30 seconds when he smartly turned over John Stockman's 30-yard pile driver.

But within two minutes Lion keeper Mark Stonestreet also had to make a save when he beat away Chris Mochan snapshot.

The Lion settled well and took the lead on 17 minutes. Mikey O'Donnell's pinpoint cross-found Andrew Webster and he powerfully headed home.

It was 2-0 five minutes later. The evergreen Fran Fife, Webster and Rob Drown interchanged and although Danny Powell's initial shot was blocked, he forced home the rebound from close range.

Within the next five minutes, Chick twice denied Nathan West. Firstly from his close range flick and secondly at full stretch to turn aside a 20 yard shot.

Although Webster then headed West's cross over, he made up for it in the 29th minute. Powell's lightning break and early cross left Webster with a simple tap in to make it 3-0. Straight after Paul Duckett had a good chance to pull one back for the Arms but he shot at Stonestreet when well placed.

The Lion played some of their best football this season in the first half and with better finishing would have extended their lead earlier. Powell and Stockman both squandered good chances and Chick denied Webster a hat trick with his feet.

However the fourth did come just before the break from a rehearsed set piece. O'Donnell's corner curled in and centre half Duncan Biggin slipped his marker to volley home from close range.

It was more of the same after the break and immediately Chick was forced to palm West's 25-yard drive onto his crossbar.

At the other end Jamie Gale tested Stonestreet from 20-yards. Nevertheless, the Arms' regrouped well and slowly managed to claw their way back into the game and it was 65 minutes before the Lion threatened again. This time Chick denied Drown from the edge of the box. Substitute Tom Evans made an immediate impact and was instrumental in many of the Lion's later moves.

The Lion made it 5-0 on 66 minutes when Dave Crawford headed home Evans already goal bound shot. A minute later Evans robbed Chick in possession but shot into the side netting. The Arms were awarded a controversial penalty on 78 minutes when Crawford was judged to have pushed Ray Banks.

It was not costly as the usually reliable Jack Goodship was denied by Stonestreet's third penalty save this season. Going into the last ten minutes, Evans set up Stockman but as the midfielder was about to shot the ball stuck under his feet.

The best move of the second half came in injury time as Evans jinked his way past five Arms players to then release Luke Enderby. Webster crashed the resulting cross against the post from eight yards to deny him a hat-trick.

The Ship FC came from two goals down to sink AFC Calne 3-2 and complete a quick fire league double over their opponents who they beat 4-3 two weeks ago Craig Fry's first goal since the opening day of the season put his team one up at the break and when Ryan Kelleher doubled the visitors lead the Ship looked on course for their first loss since last September.

The Ship dug deep and worked hard to get back into the game and Nick Medin's first goal for the club started the revival, Medin latched onto Dave Appleyard long ball to coolly finish and reduce the arrears.

Shaun Percival powered home the equaliser when his powerful drive from 18 yards broke the net. The game was won by Dave Percival when he cut through Calne's defence to bag the all important winner to keep alive his teams hopes of finishing in the top two.

FC Bradford & The Crown Devizes fought the only draw of the day, points and goals were shared as both teams were unable to produce a winner and had to settle for a point each from an entertaining 3-3 stalemate.

Paul Revening scored all three goals for the Crown, while Robin Walker, Jason Harford and Morgan Williams shared Bradford's goals, for Williams it was his first goal for the club.

White Horse FC suffered more woes at the bottom of the table when they lost out 5-1 in the local derby against Westbury based rivals The Horse & Groom for whom the victory moved them four points clear of the drop zone.

The preverbal relegation four-pointer saw the Horse & Groom open the scoring through Tom Beavan's first goal for the club.

Ben Derrick was gifted their second but his their third again scored by Derrick was a good finish. Andy Field clawed one back for the White Horse before the break when he converted from the penalty spot after a foul by Paul Aland.

Two spectacular goals in the last five minutes from Tom Crawford made the final score 5-1 in favour of The Horse & Groom who avenged their 4-3 loss last October.

WG Parr Trophy finalists Pig & Whistle United came back down to earth with a bang when they lost 3-1 at home against a Southwick Sports side who are slowly climbing the table after claiming a third win on the spin.

Stuart Avery's own goal put Southwick one up, Louis Stillman made it 2-0 and Dan Alford scored a third before the break.

Southwick were unable to add to their first half tally and Mark Bridger's consolation for United was the only goal of an uneventful second period.

Rowde missed out on the chance to stay in touch with the top two sides when Sutton Benger were unable to raise a team for their game at Sands Lane.

It was the second time in as many weeks that Benger have been unable to field a side which is a cause for concern as they still have seven games still to play.